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Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks was in Invermere last week, speaking at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday, February 20th about the new federal budget, the Build Canada Fund, and the controversies surrounding closure of Veterans Affairs offices and Senator expenses. PHOTO BY STEVE HUBRECHT
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Panorama grieving after tragic accident DAN WALTON dan@invermerevalleyecho.com It was a dark day at Panorama Mountain Village on Thursday, February 20th, after a 12-year-old skier from Saskatchewan lost control and was killed after striking a tree. “This is a tragic accident and we are doing everything we can to assist the family during this trying time,” said Panorama’s president and chief operating officer Steve Paccagnan. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the family.” The tragedy occurred around 10:30 a.m. last Thursday. The young skier, Rachel Deugau, was cruising in front of her father on a blue run when she took a wrong turn onto the black diamond-rated trail Millennium. “I don’t think she was out of control initially, but as she went down the hill all she was able to do was snowplow,” said Cpl. Grant Simpson of the Columbia Valley RCMP. “She gained some momentum, and as you near the bottom of Millennium it takes a fairly sharp turn to the right, and she was unable to negoti-
ate the right turn.” Rachel was wearing a helmet, and was tended to right away by her father and other skiers before ski patrol arrived. By 10:52 a.m., she and her dad were in a helicopter en route to the Invermere Hospital. It was confirmed there that she had passed away because of head and internal injuries.
A detail from Panorama’s trail map shows the location of the Millenium run, where the tragic accident occurred. IMAGE CAPTURE
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“Her dad was behind her; he had realized she had taken a wrong turn,” said Cpl. Simpson. “He was trying to catch up to her, and then lost sight of her briefly.” There’s no blame to be placed, he said, calling it a very unfortunate accident. The Panorama Mountain Village community is grief-stricken following the accident, and Rachel’s family and friends were cared for by the RCMP’s Victim Services. “Panorama has been phenomenal in assisting with our investigation, and assisting at the scene – assisting the victim, the father, the family,” he said. “They really lent a helping hand in whatever area they could.” The Deugau family is from Langham, Saskatchewan, which has a population just over 1,000 and is located about 35 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. Mountain conditions last Thursday were reported as overcast with light snow. There was high visibility, and the trail was covered with soft snow and had been groomed. In his five years with the Columbia Valley detachment, Cpl. Simpson said he can recall only one similar incident at Panorama.
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